I am not my hair

Yesterday I went shopping and used my credit card. As I was paying for my purchases the cashier asked for my ID. The picture on my license looked like a different person than I am now. My license picture had a woman with long brown hair...an image created out of a bottle and a good hair stylist. Today my hair is just starting to grow back...with lots of gray and spikey. The hair that I spent tons of money to upkeep fell out in clumps and now I wear my hair as a badge of courage and hope. The cashier kept looking at the license picture until I said that is me.....my hair is my chemo cut. She looked again and smiled....just like the India Aire song "I am not my hair". I never heard of the song but quickly came home to my pc and Itunes and found it. It speaks volumnes....it speaks my story. Here are the lyrics:

I Am Not My Hair [Talking:]Is that India.Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha haDat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh[Verse 1]Little girl with the press and curl Age eight I got a Jheri curlThirteen I got a relaxerI was a source of so much laughterAt fifteen when it all broke offEighteen and went all natural February two thousand and twoI went and didWhat I had to do Because it was time to change my life

To become the women that I am insideNinety-seven dreadlock all gone I looked in the mirror For the first time and saw that HEY....[Chorus]

I am not my hairI am not this skinI am not your expectations no noI am not my hair I ma not this skin I am a soul that lives within[Talking:]What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy I like it. I might do that.Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know .. ha ha ha ha[Verse 2]Good hair means curls and waves Bad hair means you look like a slave At the turn of the century

Its time for us to redefine who we be You can shave it off Like a South African beauty Or get in on lock Like Bob MarleyYou can rock it straightLike Oprah Winfrey

If its not what's on your head

Its what's underneath and say HEY....[Chorus][Bridge](Whoa, whoa, whoa)Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oooh(Whoa, whoa, whoa)Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

I am expressing my creativity..(Whoa, whoa, whoa)[Verse 3]

Lymphoma Cancer and Chemotherapy Took away her crown and glory

She promised God if she was to survive She would enjoy everyday of her life oohOn national television

Her diamond eyes are sparklingBald headed like a full moon shining Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY...[Chorus 2x][Ad lib]

If I wanna shave it close Or if I wanna rock locksThat don't take a bit away From the soul that I got Dat da da dat da [4x]

If I wanna where it braidedAll down my backI don't see what wrong with that Dat da da dat da [4x][Talking:]Is that India.Arie?

Ooh look she cut her hair! I like that, its kinda PHATI don't know if I could do it. But it looks sharp, it looks nice on herShe got a nice shaped head She got an apple headI know right? It's perfect.